Chapter 8: Semi-Finalists and League Pioneers

The Origins of Bradford City

By David Pendleton

1892-93

The 1892-93 season saw a league structure introduced in the shape of the Yorkshire Senior Competition.

Manningham opened the season with a draw in the new competition at home to Liversedge. The competition quickly overshadowed all else, with the other non-league games being downgraded to little more than friendlies. The first victory in the league came at Dewsbury on 20 September.

The sub-committee of the Yorkshire Rugby Union that was running the new league met at the White Swan, Halifax, on 30 September to choose a trophy for the winners of the competition. They chose a shield designed by J Davis of Halifax. The solid silver shield weighed some 120 ounces and was mounted on a polished oak frame. The winners would be engraved on boarder of the shield year-by-year. The handsome trophy cost 50 guineas to make.

Manningham’s first defeat in the league came during a narrow 2-0 loss at Brighouse. Manningham were without their captain Pocock, who had been suspended for disputing a referee’s decision in a previous game.

Successive victories over Huddersfield at Valley Parade and away at Halifax, briefly placed Manningham in the upper reaches of the table and above arch-rivals Bradford. However, Huddersfield had their revenge when they defeated Manningham 5-0 at Fartown.

On 2 December came the meeting that had been anticipated all season. Bradford v Manningham. It was the first meeting of the clubs since the infamous court case had settled their disputed Yorkshire Challenge Cup-tie. The two sides had only met twice before, with Bradford winning both matches. However, Manningham had made huge strides since those early encounters and, though Bradford were the favourites, the game expected to be a close encounter. In a keenly fought game Bradford scraped home 2-0, though Ike Newton came agonisingly close to snatching the game when he was held up on the try line. However, the general consensus was that Bradford – termed the ‘town team’ - were worthy victors.

The return match came on Christmas Eve. It was the first visit of Bradford to Valley Parade. 18,000 packed into the ground with thousands more locked out. Once again Bradford grabbed a narrow victory, winning 4-2.

Manningham’s rise in the rugby world was rewarded with several call-ups to the Yorkshire and North representative sides. Forward E Redman was badly injured playing for Yorkshire at Park Avenue, when the little finger of his left hand was nearly torn off while fending off a Somerset tackler.

Back-to-back victories against Liversedge and Batley pushed Manningham back up the league after the disappointments against Bradford. The sensations of the season, Brighouse, attracted a huge crowd to Valley Parade on 25 February. The crowd was estimated at more than the 18,000 who had witnessed the Bradford derby. It was a titanic encounter. Late in the game, with Manningham holding a narrow 7-2 lead, the darling of the Valley Parade crowd, George Lorimer, kicked what seemed like the match-winning goal. However, the referee ordered it to be retaken as the Brighouse forwards had charged at Lorimer. Needless to say what the Bradford Daily Telegraph called ‘the followers of the amber and claret’ were not best pleased. The retaken goal kick hit the post and the home fans had to undergo several agonising minutes before time was called.

Manningham’s neighbours Bradford won the new league. On 21 March they were awarded Yorkshire Senior Competition shield at Park Avenue. By that time the traditional highlight of the season, the Yorkshire Challenge Cup, was underway.

Manningham received home draws in the opening rounds; Newtown, Keighley and Hunslet were defeated en route to a fourth round tie at Otley. A large following saw Manningham - wearing their change strip of white - ease their way into the semi-finals with a 10-0 victory.

The semi-final was held at Huddersfield on 15 April. Though Manningham had beaten opponents Halifax in the league, the Valley Paraders were the underdogs. Heavily laden excursion trains were run from both Bradford and Halifax as 20,000 fans descended on Huddersfield. Manningham lead at half time and pressed hard at the beginning of the second period. However, in the last quarter of the game Halifax fought back to win 12-4.

The season petered out with a scoreless draw at Broughton. However, the annual meeting, held on 19 May at the Drill Shed, Manningham, was extremely upbeat. The club had arguably its best ever season, coming within a whisker of the Yorkshire Challenge Cup final. The debts from building Valley Parade were virtually paid off and of 43 games played, 23 had been won. Manningham had prospered under the new league system and had significantly closed the gap on their rivals Bradford.

Chapter One: Genesis (1872-80)

Chapter Two: Carlisle Road (1880-86)

Chapter Three: Valley Parade's first season (1886-87)

Chapter Four: Death On The Midland Road (1887-9)

Chapter Five: For Club and Country (1889-90)

Chapter Six: Trouble At The Mill (1890-91)

Chapter Seven: Football Begins to Cast Its Shadow (1891-92)

Chapter Nine: Champions! (1893-94)

Chapter Ten: The Last Season of Rugby Union (1894-95)

Chapter Eleven: Champions of the Rugby League (1895-96)

Chapter Twelve: Death of a Hero (1896-97)

Chapter Thirteen: Dark Clouds Gather (1897-98)